A civil war is a war that happens within a country between two or more groups who live in the same country.
This kind of warlike conflict occurs when people disagree about important things, like how the country should be run or managed, and they sadly can’t find a way to resolve their differences in a peaceful way.
Civil wars can be very destructive and cause much suffering for the people involved (wars unfortunately always bring bad things). They often have long-lasting effects on the country and its people, even after the fighting is over.
3 Examples of civil wars
- The American Civil War (1861-1865) was fought between the Northern and Southern states over issues of slavery, states’ rights, and the future of the United States.
- The Syrian Civil War (2011-present) was sparked by protests against the government and has since escalated into a complex conflict involving multiple factions, foreign powers, and humanitarian crises.
- The Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) was fought between the Nigerian government and secessionist forces in the southeastern region of the country, resulting in the deaths of over one million people and lasting impacts on Nigerian politics and society.
